Hongdae nail salon, 19-year veteran's magnetic gel art: Byuazeu

Hongdae has so many nail salons, but when you actually try to pick one to keep going back to, skill matters, sure, but so does friendliness and experience.

This time I visited Byuazeu Hongdae Nail, Lashes & Skincare (뷰아즈 홍대 네일 속눈썹 스킨케어), a shop that's held its spot in Hongdae for a long time. It's a total beauty shop where you can get nails, lashes, and skincare all in one place — their official channel introduces it the same way, as a shop running nails, lashes, and skincare together.

The care I got this time was from their monthly art lineup, specifically a design with magnetic gel included. Bottom line first: the shimmer was gorgeous, and I could really feel the stability that comes from the director's years of experience. A satisfying Hongdae nail salon recommendation, honestly.

Byuazeu, a Hongdae total beauty shop in its 8th year

Byuazeu has apparently been running for a whopping 8 years in Hongdae. In an area like Hongdae where trends move fast and shops turn over constantly, staying in one spot that long says something about trust.

Visiting in person, there were more regulars than first-timers, and apparently some people even travel a long way just to come here. I heard foreign customers visit a lot too — the Hongdae location, the long track record, and the finished quality of the nail designs all seem to work together.

Search 'Hongdae nail salon recommendation' these days and you'll get tons of results, but if you prefer a place with a long operating history, this one's worth a look.

Director Minji's meticulous care after 19 years

What impressed me most was, of course, director Minji. She's apparently got a whopping 19 years of experience, and from the moment she took my hand, you could really feel the skill.

That said, she wasn't stiff or intimidating at all — she was really friendly, so the whole session felt comfortable. Since nail services mean handing over your fingertips for a long time, the conversation vibe quietly matters a lot. I could talk about the design or color I wanted without any pressure, and she'd naturally recommend things that suited it, which I really liked.

With the ease and friendliness that come from long experience showing through, I sort of got why she has so many regulars.

The magnetic gel monthly art I got at Byuazeu

This time I picked the design from the monthly art lineup that included magnetic gel.

Magnetic gel is really popular these days, right? The way it subtly shimmers differently depending on the direction of the light gives it a totally different charm from a regular color gel.

Every time you move your hand, the light shifts ever so slightly, so you keep finding yourself staring at your nails. It's not too flashy but still makes a clear statement, so it works great as everyday nails, and also for a special date or before a trip.

Byuazeu's official social channels also keep posting their monthly art and various gel nail designs.

Magnetic gel especially changes feel depending on the angle and how the magnet is applied, and director Minji balanced it nail by nail so the whole set came out looking clean and cohesive.

Why regulars travel across Seoul to Byuazeu

Byuazeu isn't just for people near Hongdae — apparently plenty of regulars travel a long way on purpose to come here. Having experienced it myself, I get why. They don't just make the design pretty; they check your nail shape and condition and tidy it up first, then confirm exactly the look you want before starting, so it makes sense the satisfaction with the results is high.

It was also striking that, in a Hongdae full of foreign visitors, overseas customers keep coming back too. This seems like a great option if you want nails done on a day out in Hongdae, or if you're a foreign traveler wanting to experience K-beauty while in Korea.

Is Byuazeu worth it as a Hongdae nail salon?

What I liked most about getting the monthly art magnetic gel at Byuazeu this time was the experience, the friendliness, and the satisfaction with the result.

Director Minji, with 19 years of experience, took meticulous care of me directly, and the fact that the shop has run for 8 years in Hongdae gave me confidence too. Most of all, I really loved how the magnetic gel shimmered subtly every time I moved my fingertips. It made sense why regulars travel far and why so many foreign customers visit — it's not for nothing.

If you're looking for a long-running spot in Hongdae, or want to entrust your nails to an experienced director with peace of mind, I'd recommend Byuazeu Hongdae Nail, Lashes & Skincare. And if you enjoy the fun of picking a new design every month with their monthly art, you'll likely be even more satisfied.

If you're looking for a Hongdae nail salon recommendation, Byuazeu — where you can experience friendly director Minji's 19 years of experience together with tasteful magnetic gel art — is a place I think I'll remember the next time I need nails done.